Cats
Information
- Date
- 25th July 2025
- Society
- Lollipop Youth Theatre
- Venue
- The Norbury Theatre, Droitwich
- Type of Production
- Musical
- Director
- Holly Fields
- Musical Director
- Ed Malpass
- Vocal Coach
- Becky Fearnley
- Choeographer
- Ellen Fearnley
Lollipop Seniors aged 12 – 17 years returned to the Norbury Theatre for what may have been their greatest challenge yet, with the sung-through musical Cats, by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on T. S. Eliot's book of poems ‘Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats’. Cats is centred around the Jellicle Cats, a group of highly individual junkyard felines. The show takes place the night the Jellicle Cats must make the Jellicle Choice and decide who among them is the worthiest to ascend into the Heaviside Layer. Each cat must present their own story to their fellow Jellicle Cats and their leader, Old Deuteronomy, to plead their case.
On entering the auditorium, the audience were presented with a fascinating and realistic junk yard set on several levels and out of view beyond the playing area an excellent orchestra of seven players set against a backing star cloth. After a great overture by the band, the company assembled for the opening number ‘Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats’ with some brief acrobatics and an instant impact of some really impressive costumes and wigs for all, and excellent make-up.
A tuneful ’The Old Gumbie Cat’ was well led by Munkustrap (Annie Ajetunmobi), Jennyanydots (Caitlin Evans), Jellylorum (Phoebe Fisher), Demeter (Illyssa Simon), and Bombalurina (Jessica Ottaway) and ‘The Rum Tum Tugger’ by a very cool cat Danny Kent. Following on, Grizabella played by Arabella Ellis-Evans had a very nice voice and Bustopher Jones (Rhys Morris) with the company included some nice harmonies.
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer (Poppy Price &Zoe Blake) was a playful number and they were good movers and this was followed by Old Deuteronomy (Josh Cawston) which was sung well by Tantomile (Amelia Bruce), Coricopat (Emilia Lomax), Annie, Danny, Josh and the company. We were then introduced to the Jellicle Ball and Song of the Jellicles and the Jellicle Ball, which included a very pleasing ballet. The final number in Act 1 Grizabella the Glamor Cat was very well sung by Arabella.
I have always loved ‘Gus the Theatre Cat’ and this version in Act 2 was no exception, sung by Phoebe Fisher and Gus of course played by Lily-Joy Smith. Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat was a really good upbeat number with Owen Skyvington as Skimbleshanks full of characterisation. Macavity the Mystery Cat was a well-choreographed number, sung by Rosalie Smith (Macavity), Jessica
Ottaway (Bombalurina) and Illyssa (Demeter). There was also some nice dancing in Magical Mr Mistoffelees, played by Olivia Cawston, but possibly the high point was reached with Memory, sung by Arabella (Grizabella) and Kayla Buxton (Jemima).
Journey to the Heaviside and The Ad-Dressing of Cats sung by the company brought the show to the finale and a deserved ovation from the audience, for this challenging musical. It’s not often there is a show with continuous music and singing and those with the greatest experience were able to project the words well. There was a lengthy range of choreography well-handled, sound and lighting were good and to repeat, the costumes and make-up were excellent. I now look forward to ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr’ in November.
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